The Best of Sly The Family Stone: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by Sly And The Family Stone / Arranged by John Wasson
Grade: 3
Item: 35-PK00273373
$55.00
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Description
Includes: "Dance to the Music, I Want to Take You Higher, Sing a Simple Song", and "Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Again)".
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00273373
More about this title
About the Artist: Sly And The Family Stone
Sly And The Family Stone emerged from the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s as one of the most innovative forces in popular music. Led by Sylvester Stewart, the band pioneered a fusion of funk, soul, and rock that broke racial and genre barriers, becoming the first integrated rock band to achieve massive mainstream success. Their influence extends far beyond their chart dominance; they fundamentally shaped how rhythm sections lock together, how horns interact with groove, and how arrangement can serve both complexity and accessibility.
Why we love this
John Wasson's arrangements capture the groove DNA of these classics without losing the infectious energy that made them radio staples. Students get to experience how funk and soul structures translate to a jazz ensemble setting, learning that serious musicianship and pure fun aren't opposites. These pieces let your group play music that feels contemporary and relevant while building real rhythmic and harmonic chops.
What to expect
Funky, celebratory, and utterly grooving. These arrangements carry the unmistakable Sly stamp: horn lines that dance, rhythm sections that snap, and melodies catchy enough to stick with your students for weeks after rehearsal. There's joy here without sentimentality, sophistication without pretense.
Who it's for
Grade 3 jazz ensembles with solid fundamentals in place. Your section leaders need reliable pitch and time, but the charts aren't so demanding that they require virtuosos. This works for programs balancing serious development with music that excites students and audiences alike.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the hi-hat and kick drum pattern before anything else lands; this is the skeleton every other voice hangs on.
- Balance the horn stabs against the rhythm section rather than letting them dominate; Sly's music lives in the pocket, not on top of it.
- Find the pocket in the snare ghost notes; they're easy to rush, and rushing kills the swagger.
- Let the bass line breathe and anchor the harmony; don't crowd it with unnecessary dynamic emphasis.
How to use it
Drop these into a spring or end-of-year concert where you want to showcase your ensemble's versatility and let the audience hear themselves reflected in the music. They pair beautifully alongside standard jazz repertoire as evidence that your students can swing through any style. Consider programming one as your opener to energize the room immediately.
Skills your students will build
- Locking rhythmic precision in funk and soul grooves
- Reading syncopated rhythms across all parts
- Phrasing and articulation in horn sections
- Maintaining steady time while playing syncopated melodies
- Understanding bass lines as harmonic and rhythmic anchors
- Balancing ensemble blend within a groove-based context